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When it appeared one day in a magazine and then circulated throughout the internet, the flat screen television above the fireplace became a hot trend. But, there have been concerns. To answer your questions simply, above the fireplace is a fine place to put a television.
But, there are some things you should think about when you are deciding whether or not it's right for you. Is it safe? Where do you hide the chords? These are just some concerns many of you have had.
The first issue to address is whether or not it is safe. That depends on the fireplace construction itself. If there is a good bit of insulation between the chimney and the outer layer of the wall, you should be fine. If you have a brick wall, it should be safe because normally there is sufficient padding installed between the chimney and the wall.
But if you don't know whether or not you have sufficient insulation, the best thing to do is light a fire in the fireplace. Let it burn for about an hour to give the wall enough to time to warm. Then, feel the wall.
If you feel heat, there are some things that you can do. I suggest first mounting a small section of wood and putting insulation between it and the wall. The small section of wood only has to be big enough for mounting the television. That way, it's hidden behind the television and provides the television with sufficient protection.
The next concern is what to do with all the wires. There are several ways to handle this, but conduit seems to work the best. You can either run the wires down the wall to the mantel and then along the mantel until you can go down the side of the fireplace. But the best way I can find to make the television over the fireplace work is to find wireless solutions. The power chord will be the only wire you'll have to worry about. The external speakers, dvd players, cable boxes, video game consoles and even computers will all be able to communicate to the television wirelessly.
Put the plan together and make it happen. You can be your own handy person on this project. Nothing is too difficult. Just get some tips from someone you trust if you have to do any drilling through a brick wall.
About this Author
Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. She has written such great reports as DIY Outdoor Fireplaces, Fireplace Ideas Report, and DIY Fireplace. Read further details about the Ventless Gel Fireplace reports at The Ventless Gel Fireplace Reports and sign up for the newsletter so you can be updated whenever Jessica Brylan puts out a new one.
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